Iran says Syria has every right to defend itself against Israel

Iran on Friday supported Syria’s right to defended itself against Israel’s aggression, state TV reported, accusing the international community of remaining silent over Israel’s attacks on Tehran’s key regional ally.

Israel said it had attacked nearly all of Iran’s military infrastructure in Syria on Thursday after Iranian forces fired rockets at Israeli-held territory for the first time, in the most extensive military exchange ever between the two adversaries.

Russia, Iran vow to adhere to nuclear deal

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Arakchi met in Tehran, Moscow said on Thursday.Their meeting focused on the prospects of the Iran nuclear deal after the U.S. withdrawal from it, according to a statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry.Both the countries confirmed adherence to the agreement, the statement added.On May 8, U.S. President Donald Trump announced withdrawal of his country from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Actions on Iran nuclear deal.

Merkel reaffirms commitment to Iran nuclear deal

Germany will remain committed to nuclear deal with Iran, as long as Tehran would continue to fulfil its commitments, Chancellor Angela Merkel told Iranian president Hassan Rouhani in a phone call on Thursday, her office said.“The Chancellor underlined that Germany – as well as France and Great Britain – will remain committed to nuclear agreement with Iran, as long as Iran would continue to fulfil its obligations under the agreement,” government spokesman Steffen Seibert said in a statement.“The Chancellor spoke in favor of holding talks in an extended format with states involved and Iran on its ballistic missiles program and activities in the region such as the ones in Syria and Yemen,” he added.“She condemned the overnight attacks by Iran against Israeli military positions at Golan Heights and called on Iran to contribute to de-escalation in the region,” he also said.Erdoğan, Putin discuss US withdrawal from nuclear dealLate last night, the Israeli army claimed that Iranian forces in Syria had fired 20 rockets into the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights but that all had been intercepted by their air-defense system.Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman claimed they have destroyed “almost all” of Iran’s military infrastructure in Syria in response to the rocket attacks.The escalation came after U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he had decided the pull the U.S. out of a landmark 2015 nuclear deal with Iran.Trump also accused Tehran of destabilizing the region with “sinister activities” in Syria, Yemen, and other places all around the world.

Erdoğan, Putin discuss US withdrawal from nuclear deal

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Thursday discussed the U.S. withdrawal from Iran nuclear deal with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin over the phone.According to presidential sources, Erdogan and Putin agreed that the U.S. decision on the nuclear deal is “wrong” and pointed out that the nuclear deal was a diplomatic success that should be protected.The two leaders also spoke about the recent developments and increasing tension in Syria.Erdogan also congratulated Putin for officially starting his fourth term as Russian president.On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew his country from the landmark nuclear deal, which was signed in 2015 between Iran and the P5 1 group of nations (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany).Acting ahead of a May 12 deadline, Trump opted not to extend sanctions relief on Iran, re-imposing nuclear-related economic penalties on the Islamic republic.Erdoğan tells Iran’s Rouhani that US decision on nuclear deal wrongThe 2015 deal had placed unprecedented restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for billions of dollars in sanctions relief.Trump had roundly criticized the agreement in 2016 during his electoral campaign, calling it the “worst deal” he had ever seen.Other members of the P5 1, for their part, say the agreement in its current form represents the best way to reign in Iran’s nuclear program.Trump’s move has sparked a range of reactions, with some countries welcoming it and others condemning it.